What happened
On 2 April 2016, a Stemme S10-V, registration G-BXGZ, was performing a private flight at Lasham Airfield in Hampshire. The flight was originally intended to depart from the tarmac of Runway 09; however, following instructions from the Launch Point Controller, the pilot repositioned the aircraft to a grass area adjacent to Runway 16.
As the aircraft began its takeoff roll, it accelerated normally. However, just as the aircraft was reaching the point of becoming airborne, the landing gear encountered a patch of very soft, boggy grass. This sudden change in surface consistency caused the aircraft to decelerate rapidly. The resulting force caused the aircraft to pitch forward, leading the nose and propeller to make contact with the ground. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger, though the aircraft sustained a broken propeller and damage to the nose cone.
The investigation
The investigation examined the takeoff sequence and the surface conditions at the departure point. It was established that the pilot had been directed to use the grass strip rather than the prepared tarmac. The investigation looked into the ground conditions at the time of the incident and the pilot's awareness of the terrain. The investigation also noted the wind conditions, which were recorded as 10-15 knots from 160°.